the best is yet to come

Transcription

1 TERM 4, 2013 BATHURST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 5 Bible studies on the best is yet to come

2 the best is yet to come Last year we took a look at 1 Samuel and read of David......the Lord has sought out a man after my own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) And yet, this term, we ll read in these words as well about David... Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? ( 12:9) David showed so much promise in 1 Samuel, especially in contrast to Israel s first king, Saul. 1 Samuel ended with great promise that David might indeed be the one to bring home the bacon (to slightly mix up the metaphors, given Israel s food laws!) But despite some good times, things are more disappointing in than positive. Where does that leave God s huge promises in the Bible to send a savior to fix things? Does it leave us still up in the air given we also know what it s like as Christians to be sold out for God on the one hand, but to also act in less than glowing ways on the other? is really a continuation of 1 Samuel (originally, there was no break, just 1 book of Samuel). The book s real power is in underlining our massive need for a real savior, not just a taste of one, for someone like Jesus to come! If nothing else, we should grow in our appreciation and love for Jesus from. Then we can start to gather up steam in our lives and move past disappointing patterns. Hints for these studies with each question, sometimes there s a follow up question or two included at the same number. This is to just help draw it out a bit more. You may get it with the first one so don t panic if you end up saying the same thing in thinking about the follow up question just move on. Also, don t panic if you can t quite see what a question might be driving at. These questions are not the Bible. Feel free to move onto the next one. The questions are just an attempt to help us get into the passage/issue. Let the passage drive things at the end of the day. The questions are of course still hoped to be helpful in leading in to what God is saying. So at least think about it before moving on it might then become more obvious. ABOVE ALL, PRAY FOR GOD TO SPEAK TO US! 2

3 1 saviour protocol Why is it so hard to take most politicians seriously? Isn t it great when one occasionally delivers? Does 1 Samuel end with a longing like that? read 1: Any irony with an Amalekite reporting Saul s death? (compare 1 Samuel 15 ) 2. Was David harsh in his dealings with this guy? (check the last chapter in 1 Samuel and think about whether this guy s story adds up, what his motivation might have been to come to David was he expecting David to see it as great news-hence a reward?) 3. Why such a big deal about killing the LORD s anointed? Hadn t he committed suicide? (at least David practiced what he preached see 1Samuel 24 and 26). 4. See Matthew 26: Any similarities with 1? (given Matthew 1:1-17, 3:13-17, 20:31) 5. What s at stake if we don t approach God s anointed one appropriately today? read 1: Is David rewriting history was Saul really that great? Recall some of Saul s less glorious moments from 1 Samuel. 7. When was Saul s Kingship worth rejoicing in? 8. What s David so worried about when thinking about Saul and his legacy? (for instance in v20 what might people read into about God and His plans with Saul s failings?) 9. Will things be any better with David? 10. How does all this help us appreciate Jesus better, to want to make sure we get it right with him? * that we would never take liberties with Jesus 7:1-29 3

4 2 narrowing the search Do you find the Old Testament overwhelming? Hard to follow? Too much information? Can t wait to get to the New Testament? read 7: Are you surprised by God s reaction to David s seemingly honourable intentions? 2. Why such a big deal around a house for God? Does the idea of God being near us help us see what s going on with the Old Testament, going right back to the beginning in Genesis and the whole Garden of Eden episode? 3. How does David still have such a key role in God s plan even though he won t get to build the Temple? 4. Ever had good intentions with God but have still headed up a dead end? 5. How does God s promises to David and his descendants to establish a kingdom that will last forever (v16) fit in with the overall plan in the Old Testament to undo the mess of sin and bring us back to God? See Genesis 3:15, 12:1-3, Deuteronomy 18:15, Isaiah 11:1-3. read 7: How did David respond to God s word to him? Get his nose out of joint? 7. Who s David s focus firmly on in the and why? 8. Does David see himself and the people of Israel (Abraham s descendants) as deserving this special place in God s plans? 9. How do you go when a fellow Christian out something in your plans that doesn t marry too well with God s plans? Are you teachable? 10. How does all this help us appreciate Jesus better, how he is forever? See Acts 2: * that we would be in awe of God s plan to bring us near to Himself fulfilled through Jesus 11:1-27 4

5 3 oh, derr! Share an example when you have been oblivious to the obvious and done something really embarrassing? read 11: Anything unusual with David s plans for war? (v1) 2. When did David move from temptation to sin? 3. What s going on with the reference in v4 to Bathsheba having purified herself from uncleanness - doesn t seem a clean thing to be compliant in? (see Leviticus 15:19-30 and bear in mind the next verse back in what s it making sure we get?) 4. What was David s approach to the complication of v5? 5. How did he respond to further complications in the rest of the chapter? 6. How do we sometimes set ourselves up for a fall ones we shouldn t be so surprised by? 7. How can we also make matters worse? 8. How can we respond to temptation in more Godly ways? See 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 3:1, 4:14-16, 12:2 (Romans 6:1-23 if want to go the extra mile). 9. It s obvious that David isn t the ultimate anointed one of the Lord, only a taste, and a bitter one at this point. His kingship from here on is markedly less effective, even though he still has a heart for the Lord (1 Samuel 13:14) and sought forgiveness (see next chapter, Psalm 51). But he clearly had enough problems with his own sin. Why didn t God just cut straight to the chase with Jesus? 10. How does all this help us appreciate Jesus better, how he is the one who can save? Contemplate his battle with sin compared to David s see Matthew 4:1-11, 26:39. * that we would be preoccupied with God s plans in Jesus, who clearly is the one who can save 13:1-38 5

6 4 dysfunctionality Why are so many keen for Prince William to be the next king of England (and Australia) rather than his dad? read 13: Why was Amnon so frustrated? (v1-2) See Leviticus 13:8. 2. How shrewd was the advice of Amnon s friend? (v3-5) Remind you of anyone? Genesis 3:1? 3. How come Amnon now hated her more than he loved her (v15)? Fit with Genesis 2:17? 4. How important is it to have friends who will give Godly advice? Where do you get them? 5. How important is it to think through whatever advice we are given? See 1 John 4:1, Proverbs 14:1-17. read 13: Why was Absalom so keen for Amnon to come to the feast? (v23-27) 7. Was Absalom just seeking revenge for his sister? (v bearing in mind Amnon was the first in line to succeed David 3:1-5, and the way everyone fled ) 8. Was David effectively dealing with the situation? (v30-38, especially v38 untenable to allow treason to prevail, and yet David also clearly loved Absalom?) 9. How do we also struggle to act justly but also be loving? Can you give an example? 10. How does all this help us appreciate Jesus better, how he has found the way to truly love and justly deal with our sin? See Romans 3: * that we would look to Jesus to find the way out of our dysfunctionality 18:1-33 6

7 5 real good news Do you prefer the good news or the bad news first? read 18: Any hints of David s inadequacy as king in accepting the advice of v3 as he tried to deal with his wayward son Absalom? Such a contrast with the heights of1 Samuel 17? 2. Why is one of David s men (who discovered Absalom in such dire straits) so much more attractive than the commander Joab? (v6-15) 3. Any irony in Absalom s end in v16-17, especially given v18? 4. Does Joab remind you of anyone with the references to silver in v11 and 12? See Matthew 26: How true are Jesus words, all who take the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:52)? Think about how we see that principle at play in our lives today. read 18: Why would the messengers think it good news to pass on to David? (v19-23) 7. How was David still in denial as he awaited news of the battle? (v24-32a) 8. How does his response to the news of Absalom s death reveal the depth of paralysis that had come to his kingship? (v32b-33) 9. How do we typically and ineffectually give false hope in our dealings with sin whether personally, at home, at Church, even nationally? 10. How does all this help us appreciate Jesus better, how it really is good news, especially contrasting David s forlorn wishes of v33 and how Jesus actually does take our place? * that we would embrace the truly good news that our sin has been dealt with by Jesus scan rest of 2 Samuel how s it also help us see Jesus? 7